Armageddon! When and Where? · why the Lord chose Armageddon to be this symbolic place....

“Armageddon! When and Where?” #710 – May 27, 2012

Christian Questions ©2012 all rights reserved 1

Armageddon! When and Where?

Revelation 16:16: (KJV) And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Special Guest: David Stein

Armageddon! The very word sends shivers down the spine of millions. Armageddon! Of all the Biblical prophecies, this one is probably more recognized than any other, even by those who are not believers in the Bible. Armageddon! It captures the imagination. It has been the framework for blockbuster movies and descriptions of war

and destruction. So what is it? Where is it? When is it? And how does it really work? Is it really as dire as we think? Is it WORSE?

The only place in the Bible where the term "Armageddon" appears: Revelation 16:16: (KJV) And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

(ASV) And they gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew Har-Magedon.

Did you know the derivation of "Armageddon?"

Ramoth Gilead of Gad is also known in the Bible (2 Kings 8:2) as "Ramah."

There being “Ramahs” in other tribes, this one was known as: "Ramah-Gad."

By New Testament times, this city was part of the Decapolis, cities with Grecian influence, designated with the prefix for Greece, Ionia or Ion. Thus, "Ramah-Gad-Ion."

In Hebrew to Greek transliterations, the “Ra" opening often becomes “Ar,” thus Joseph from Ramathea is called “Joseph of Arimathea.” With this device: "Arma-Gad-Ion ."

Or, the more familiar "Armageddon."

What does the term Armageddon mean? It literally means ‘Hill (or Mount) of Megiddo.’ Har = Mount, Megiddo = Valley of Megiddo. Professor Strong says it was a place of crowds or rendezvous. It also means "destruction" in Hebrew. Putting it all together, it is a mountain and valley of destruction, a place of gathering where something is going to happen. Today this area is also known as the Jezreel Valley.

The geography is very interesting. In the ancient world, when people would travel between Asia and Africa or Europe and the southern part of the near east, they would come through the Jezreel Valley. Consequently it became a place where great battles were fought. We think that is one of the reasons why the Lord chose Armageddon to be this symbolic place. Geographically, it was a natural highway, far north of Jerusalem and not far from the Sea of Galilee. All of the ancient trade routes came through here, but it was also a strategic place for war.



What is the history of Megiddo?

“More people have died on the battlefield of Megiddo than anywhere else on earth.” Dr. Paul Mali, Professor Emeritus- Graduate School, University of Hartford; Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel and others

Ancient Megiddo's gates and walls witnessed the armed struggles of Assyrians, Canaanites, Egyptians, Greeks, Israelites, Persians, Philistines, and Romans. Although Megiddo was not a

fortress in the days of World War I, note that the critical battle enabling the British Field Marshal Edmund Allenby to wrest control of the Holy Land from the Turks occurred at Megiddo where he began his offensive against them on September 18, 1918.

It had a reputation for being a place of great destruction. It is a logical place to stage a battle. Is the next battle described in Revelation literal or symbolic?

Overlooking the Jezreel Valley,

the place of Armageddon



What kinds of things actually happened at Megiddo?

Interesting note: Battles were won and lost with complete victories and complete defeats. There were no ties.

Converging tipping points, Nostradamus 2012, The History Channel

• Our planet is faced with crises of alarming complexity: oil shortages – vanishing species – deadly tsunamis – economic chaos – nuclear threats. Is this coincidence or is there something more ominous unfolding? We are reaching a confluence of tipping points in fundamental systems…in energy, climate, financial systems, food production, water issues...we are at the moment when all these things converge.

Gideon’s victory, fighting with a mere 300 men: Judges 7:19-23: (KJV) 19So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. 20And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 21And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. 22And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Beth–shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel–meholah, unto Tabbath. 23And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.

This was a thorough and complete victory for Gideon over the bondage of Midian. (Gideon pictures the Lord and the glorified church who release mankind from bondage.)

Saul’s defeat and death: 1 Samuel 31:1-6: (KJV) 1Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. 2And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi–shua, Saul's sons. 3And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. 4Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. 5And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. 6So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.

So Israel lost a battle here. It was a thorough and complete defeat for Saul, who was not a good king and had to be removed. How was this a victory for God? This defeat opened the way for the kingship of David, and David was very blessed of the Lord. We believe this pictured the loss of Satan to the kingship of the "Great David" – JESUS!

King Josiah slain by Pharoah-Necho: 2 Chronicles 35:22-25: (KJV) 22Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. 23And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded. 24His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 25And Jeremiah lamented for



Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.

• One of the most disastrous conflicts in the history of Israel!

Jezebel slain in the city of Jezreel in the same valley: 2 Kings 9:30-37: (KJV) 30And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window. 31And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master? 32And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs. 33And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot. 34And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king's daughter. 35And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. 36Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel: 37And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.

This describes the final end of the most despicable civil and false religious power structure in the history of Israel! Jezebel was a worshiper of Baal.

King Ahab = civil power Jezebel = religious power of Israel

We believe this is a picture of the end of an awful church-state system that will gain power in the last days.

What is the meaning of Armageddon prophetically?

Will there be an actual "final battle" at the literal place of Armageddon? We think it is a metaphor for a battle that takes place around the world. It will be the triumph of righteousness over injustice. It will be a worldwide battle in which all of the things opposed to God's kingdom will fall. While a symbolic battle without a specific geographic location, nevertheless it includes an actual attack on natural Israel.

• We are not to expect a literal gathering to the Hill of Megiddo.

• It is a very complex period of time and although worldwide in scope, it focuses on Christendom and western and near-east civilization.

• It includes judgmental effects upon the civil powers, the political powers, the religious powers, the financial powers and the entire social structure of the earth.

• A good modern language synonym of what Armageddon means would be “Waterloo,” meaning a final, total defeat.



What other Biblical phrases describe Armageddon?

Great tribulation: Matthew 24:21: (KJV) For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

A Time of Trouble: Daniel 12:1: (KJV) And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

The Day of Vengeance: Isaiah 63:4: (KJV) For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.

Isaiah 34:8: (KJV) For it is the day of the LORD'S (JEHOVAH’s) vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.

Day cometh that shall burn as an oven: Malachi 4:1: (KJV) For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

The Day of the LORD (JEHOVAH): Joel 2:1,2: (KJV) 1Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; 2A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

Amos 5:20: (KJV) Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

The earth shall tremble: Jeremiah 10:10: (KJV) But the LORD (JEHOVAH) is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

A controversy with the nations: Jeremiah 25:31-33: (KJV) 31A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD. 32Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. 33And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.

God’s strange work: Isaiah 28:21: (KJV) For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, He shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that He may do his work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange act.



What will survive Armageddon and what will be destroyed at Armageddon?

Armageddon is a time when God is going to be for the people of this world. The wrath of God is against the institutions that oppress and do not take care of the people. The balancing of the scales of justice will take place. The earth is NOT DESTROYED: Ecclesiastic 1:4: (KJV) One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

Two symbols used in conjunction with the event of Armageddon are "earthquake" and "fire." As a biblical symbol, earthquake pictures revolution. "Earth" is the stable society, but when it starts to shake, it becomes unstable. This is a social earthquake. Fire is often a biblical symbol of anarchy. The structures that have not been a blessing to mankind in general will be torn down. It is for the purpose of purifying, not just destroying.

What should we do? Should we stockpile food and weapons? We are told to remain close to God.

The purpose of Armageddon is to cleanse and restore so the people can be blessed and serve God: Zephaniah 3:8,9: (KJV) 8Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. 9For then will I turn to the people a pure language, (the people survive!) that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.

Not all heathen destroyed: Ezekiel 36:36: (KJV) Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate, I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.

Zephaniah 3:8,9: (KJV) 8Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.

God's purpose in having Christ come to earth was to die as a ransom for all; God wants to provide a blessing for all. We believe people will die during Armageddon, but we aren't to think that these casualties are gone forever.

The Bible guarantees a hope for all to come back from the grave to reap the benefits of the permission of sin, to learn how to serve God in righteousness. The point is to reveal God to all mankind. We believe Armageddon is a piece of the process and not the end of the process.

Isaiah 66:15-19: (KJV) 15For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. 17They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD. 18For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. 19And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish,



Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.

All creation to be delivered: Romans 8:20, 23: (KJV) 20For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 23 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

(Most other translations use "creation" rather than "creature," meaning the whole family of mankind.) This releases mankind, all creation, from the bondage of sin and death, and the evil influences of Satan. They will have glorious liberty.

Ezekiel 38 discusses Israel's part of the battle.

Revelation 16:16 (KJV): 12And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 13And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.14For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the

battle of that great day of God Almighty.15Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, (the only garment a Christian has is his garment of justification. Those that keep a close relationship with God will fair the best through all of this.) lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 16And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. 17And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. 18And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. 19And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 20And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

The gathering to Armageddon occurs after the sixth angel poured out his bowl (vial) on the great river Euphrates and before the seventh angel pours out his bowl (vial). Historically, Babylon was destroyed via the armies of Darius and Cyrus by stopping up the Euphrates. It dried up and the armies were able to climb through the portals where the river had run through into the city. In ancient Babylon, the Euphrates was a representation of the financial strength of that world empire at the time. When the water stops up, the money stops flowing.

We see this as a drying up of financial backings of organizations that are not in harmony with God. Financial collapse produces social upheaval. With social upheaval, the governments and churches will try to ban together to try to create some type of continuity because the people start getting revolution-minded.

Armageddon is a major part of the seventh plague. Its purpose is to destroy the social order, to take away those things that have been oppressing man - his greedy, sinful rule of himself.



The meaning of the symbols: (verse 13)

• Dragon = Civil power, civil government

• Beast = Papal system of rule

• False Prophet = Protestant organizations, World Council of Churches

• Three frogs, all croaking the same message: Follow us, we will take care of you; you just have to give up your rights and liberties.

If we begin to see these melding together, it should be a warning sign about the timing of Armageddon. We see from verse 12 that it comes from a worldwide financial collapse, so this is something that we can watch for in the very near future.

• Great earthquake = a social revolution - the rising up of the people

• City = Babylon the Great, Christendom

• Into three parts = the dissolution of the Church-State union, the union that came together doesn't last

• Island, mountain = all other kingdoms and political units of man

• Great hail = (water = truth) "hard water"/hail = hard truths

• Weight of a talent = the value of human life in God’s sight - governments all through the ages have not valued human life, but God does!

o Consider 1 Kings 20:39: And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.

What is the Lord's Great Army?

Joel 2:10-11: (Read entire chapter for context) 10 Before them the earth shakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine. 11The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?

"The Lord's Great Army" is the term given to the sea of mankind that is fed up with all that has been going on with our corrupt governments, financial institutions, etc. This is part of the social revolution when the people rise up out of frustration. It is under the guidance and permission of God. This army will be very destructive but God will use them to accomplish His end.

Three entities that come

together in an

ecumenical movement

in order to preserve

their existence;

a church-state union



How does Israel figure into Armageddon?

Part of God's judgment is on false religious systems that do not represent Christ. But God's original promises go all the way back to the time of Abraham. Israel is the fleshly seed of Abraham. Therefore, they are the legitimate inheritors of many promises. As Armageddon starts to develop, Israel will continue to have God's blessing. The world will notice and will bring armies into Israel. There will be gathering of nations. Israel will be attacked but then God will fight for them.

The attack of Gog: Ezekiel 38:8-13: (KJV) 8After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. 9Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. 10Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: 11And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, 12To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. 13Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

The time of Jacob’s Trouble: Jeremiah 30:3-7: (KJV) 3For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. 4And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. 5For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. 6Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? 7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

The gathering of all nations against Jerusalem: Zechariah 14:2,3: (KJV) 2For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

Armageddon is a complex development of world-wide proportions with so many elements to it. The Scriptures say that God will establish the core of His kingdom with Jesus as king in Israel, per the promises of old.

What happens after Armageddon is over?

Armageddon isn't the end of the earth, it is the end of the world order as we know it. The earth lives through it, people live through it, and there are blessings.

Revelation 21:1: Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.



Armageddon is the passing away of the old religious, government and civil orders. There will be a religion of truth and a government of righteousness. (Also note, there will be no more "sea," no more restless masses of people in this new arrangement.)

Isaiah 60:1-5: 1Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 4Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. 5Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

Darkness and gross darkness are part of the Armageddon process (verse 2), but the results are in verse 3. We need to stay close to God and watch. We have discussed specific signs to watch for, like a church-state union out of a wide-scale financial crises.

This is the answer to our prayers, Thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.

As bleak and difficult as it looks, Armageddon's end result is not of destruction, but of cleansing. We give the example of a patient undergoing surgery for cancer. The process of removing the cancer is a painful one and recovery is difficult, but the end result is a healthy patient. Armageddon is an invasive surgery removing the effects of sin and death.

How should the average person prepare? There is a spiritual preparation. We have been praying for God's kingdom for thousands of years and now it is coming. Jesus died for everyone and the setting up of the kingdom will allow us to live life as God originally intended - blessings galore! Depend upon God for His guidance to you day by day.

Armageddon! When and Where?

For Jonathan and Rick and Christian Questions, Think about it…!

And now even more to think about… only in the Full Edition of CQ Rewind!



Old Testament Scripture Summary of Megiddo History

• Joshua killed the king of Megiddo during the Conquest (Joshua 12:7,21).

• The city of Megiddo was allotted to the tribe of Manasseh (Joshua 17:11; 1 Chronicles 7:29).

• Deborah and Barak led the Israelites to victory over the Canaanite armies of Sisera by "the waters of Megiddo" (Judges 5:19,20).

• Solomon made Megiddo one of his district capitals as well as one of his three main fortress cities (1 Kings 4:12; 9:15).

• King Josiah of Judah died in battle near Megiddo when he tried to thwart pharaoh Necho's attempt to succor the Assyrians at the Battle of Carchemish (2 Kings 23:29-30; 2 Chronicles 35:20-24).

Images from http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/armaggedon.html

Kibbutz Megiddo.

The south hills above Megiddo



A view towards the south, where the ancient road of Via Maris passes through the hills. In the background - the Arab City of Um-El-Fakhem - which sits above the road.

Armageddon! When and Where? · why the Lord chose Armageddon to be this symbolic place....

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